MAPA – Participatory Acoustic Mapping

CSO: Mezza APS
Area: Marine protection and noise pollution.
Location: Sicily, Mazara del Vallo

Type of project

Data collection on marine noise pollution involving artisanal fishers to protect the coastal ecosystem.

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Target (Disengaged)

Artisanal fishers, historically distant from abstract ecological discourse.

Science-based

Marine bioacoustics through the use of professional hydrophones and data analysis conducted with CNR researchers.

Gender

Predominantly female scientific team and involvement of women in fishing cooperatives.

Planned activities

• On-dock bioacoustics training, participatory mapping during sea trips, and drafting the “Pact for Marine Quiet.” Fishermen define, approve, and endorse a shared set of good practices to reduce noise disturbance and protect the marine ecosystem.

Action model

• Applied Citizen Science model; the hypothesis is that making an invisible phenomenon (noise) visible through real data can change the operational habits of fishers toward the ecological transition